By NICOLE WILLIAMS
THE move of the Officer post office was inevitable for the postal service to continue. But some Officer residents are angry that it means the post office is no longer located in the town centre.
The post office closed up the Princes Highway store last weekend and opened at Arena Shopping Centre on Monday 4 November.
A number of concerned residents wrote a combined letter to the Gazette, stating it was a ‘sad day for Officer township’ and that the residents were ‘distressed’ by the move, especially considering the rapid growth in the township.
Officer post office owner Leigh Scanlan said he had been in discussions with Places Victoria for more than three years about moving the post office into what would become the centre of the township with no outcome.
“I was left no choice but to look at alternatives and the only alternative was to come here,” he said.
“If I didn’t do something, then the postal facility we were trying to offer to the community would be in jeopardy.”
Officer resident Rob Porter said the move shocked most people, having received little or no notification and the Officer and District Community Association had been contacted by a number of concerned residents.
“It is one of those things we wish didn’t happen,” he said.
“It has made a lot of people discontented.”
Mr Scanlan said poor parking and out-dated facilities meant a move had to occur for the business to progress.
“We could have stayed in the central part of Officer and it stayed stagnant but given it is a private business, I think I should be able to develop the business and provide the best service for the community,” he said.
Mr Porter said many were also disappointed with the move of the public post office box.
“They have also moved the post box and it’s on Cardinia Road, which is the boundary of Pakenham,” he said.
“I can’t see people from Whiteside Road or May Road going that distance to post a letter. Everything changes but ever since I can remember, the GPO (general post office) was the central point of the town.”
Moving the public post box from the Princes Highway location with the new store was a decision by Australia Post and Mr Scanlan said he had unsuccessfully campaigned for the box to remain.
Around 98 per cent of people were pleased with the move and additional services now on offer, according to Mr Scanlan.
“Moving forward people will have a postal service second to none. We’ve got the same staff and the same friendly service that we have for nine and a half years,” he said.
“It is a bug bare to change, but in some ways change is inevitable.”
